We Had a Plan… Then it Rained. (S3E20)

Oh my gosh, Becky. Look at her… follower count.Apparently, having a social media following means you’re entitled to free stuff now?Well, that’s news to us. 😂In this episode of Royally Unhinged THE Podcast, we’re talking influencers, inflated egos, freebie expectations, and what happens when someone thinks their follower count is a VIP pass to whatever they want.But here’s the thing… does size really matter?We’re talking follower counts, engagement, and what actually makes someone influential. Because having thousands of followers doesn’t necessarily mean you’re reaching the right people, making an impact, or bringing value to a business.And because we can’t stay on one topic for too long, we also get into a little social media experiment involving location-based SEO, some surprising engagement results, and why WHERE you’re posting might matter just as much as WHAT you’re posting.From influencer entitlement to social media marketing strategies that actually make sense, we’re questioning what influence really looks like and why businesses should think twice before getting caught up in the numbers.And yes, we have a few opinions. Shocking, we know.Tell us in the comments: What makes someone a REAL influencer in your eyes? Is it their following, their engagement, or something else entirely?#RoyallyUnhinged #BabyGotBusiness #InfluencerMarketing #SocialMediaMarketing #SmallBusinessMarketing

What do bingo cards, continuing education, forgotten travel essentials, and getting pulled over by the police have in common?Apparently, this episode. 😂We took Royally Unhinged THE Podcast on the road to the MCEA Conference, where Paula invited Tarah to join her for a little on-location recording. The plan? Recording a podcast…What actually happened? Well… people needed to get their bingo cards signed, Paula shared some of the not-so-glamorous realities of business travel, and Tarah somehow managed to get pulled over on her way to the conference.Naturally, things went a little off the rails.Somewhere between the chaos, we actually managed to talk about why industry conferences are worth attending, how connecting with others in your field can open doors, and why continuing education doesn’t always have to look the way it’s always been done.We also get into Paula’s plans to shake things up in the speaking industry, challenging the status quo, and why sometimes doing things differently is exactly what an industry needs.And remember our last episode, The Pivot? Turns out we weren’t quite done practicing that one.Because sometimes business is about making connections, learning new things, and growing professionally.And sometimes it’s about getting through the day with whatever you remembered to pack.Tell us in the comments: What’s the best conference you’ve ever attended, and what made it memorable?#RoyallyUnhinged #BusinessPodcast #Networking #ProfessionalDevelopment #ConferenceLife

Sometimes business goes according to plan.And sometimes… absolutely not.What does it really means to pivot when life, technology, schedules, health, clients, or just plain chaos force you to change course??Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur trying to keep everything moving by yourself or a business owner dealing with something completely outside of your control, there are moments when you have to stop, reset, adjust, and figure out what still makes sense.We get into how hard that can be when you’re the one wearing all the hats, why flexibility matters, and how sometimes the pivot isn’t about giving up on the plan — it’s about finding a different way to keep going.And because this episode itself had to pivot into a virtual recording… the timing felt pretty appropriate.Sometimes Plan A works.Sometimes Plan B shows up uninvited.And sometimes you just have to yell:PIVOT!Tell us in the comments: what’s the biggest pivot you’ve ever had to make in your business?

We had a plan. We had questions. We were going to talk to people. And then the weather said, “Absolutely not.”In this episode of Royally Unhinged THE Podcast, we’re recording from a local food truck festival and talking about how businesses and organizations can actually find local events, festivals, pop-ups, vendor opportunities, and community happenings that can help get them in front of more people.We get into why showing up locally can be such a good marketing move, how community events can help build awareness and connections, and why sometimes the best opportunities are happening way closer to home than you think.We also had every intention of interviewing people at the event.Did that happen?Nope.Because rain.So naturally, the episode became part local marketing conversation, part event survival story, and part reminder that even a good plan sometimes needs a backup plan.If you’ve ever wondered how to find local events for your business, how to get involved in your community, or how to use events as part of your marketing strategy, this one’s for you.Tell us in the comments: what local event has been one of the best marketing opportunities for your business?

We took Royally Unhinged THE Podcast on location to Trinity Designs, and naturally, we started asking the important questions… like, what exactly can you engrave?In this sponsored episode, we get into all the creative things Trinity Designs can do with laser engraving, custom products, branded merch, xTool equipment, personalized gifts, promo items, and unique one-off pieces.We also talk about why branded items don’t have to be boring, how businesses can think outside the box with promotional products, and why the stuff you carry, wear, give away, or bring to events can be part of your brand too.And of course, we had to test the limits a little.Can you engrave this? What about that? What materials work? What absolutely does not work?Basically, this episode is part branding conversation, part behind-the-scenes look at laser engraving, and part “how weird can we get with this?”If you’ve ever wanted custom merch, branded gifts, promotional products, or just something completely unique, this one is for you.Big thanks to Trinity Designs for sponsoring this episode and letting us come play in their space. Trinitydesignsco.comTell us in the comments: what is the weirdest thing you’d want engraved?

You ever show up for one thing… and suddenly realize you’re being sold something completely different?Yeah. That.We’re talking about the bait-and-switchy side of sales — from events that start as entertainment and somehow morph into a pitch, to speakers who give you value and then hit you with the “special offer if you sign up today” moment.We get into where the line is between a normal upsell and a full-on “wait… was this the plan the whole time?” situation, why some sales tactics feel fine and others instantly make people uncomfortable, and how trust can disappear really fast when people feel like they were brought in under false pretenses.Because selling isn’t the problem.The surprise sales ambush? That’s where it gets weird.Tell us in the comments: what’s the most awkward or unexpected upsell you’ve ever experienced?

This episode starts with Ludacris.Naturally, it somehow ends up at lutefisk, lefse, NSYNC, cereal boxes, franchise marketing, and the very serious question of whether every region should just get its own weird little version of everything.We get into commercials, local references, nostalgia, and those tiny details that make people go, “Okay, this was definitely made for us.”Somewhere along the way, we also revisit Tarah’s elementary-school marketing masterpiece: NSYNC-os. Because apparently the branding career started early.Eventually, yes, there is a point.It has something to do with knowing your audience, understanding where they live, and not assuming the same generic message is going to land the same way everywhere.But mostly?Ludacris. Lutefisk. Local marketing.You’ll get there with us.Tell us in the comments: what regional reference would instantly make you stop and pay attention to an ad?Listen or watch now:🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6oFcqQdcAjmvVazynOpeMD🍏 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/royally-unhinged-the-podcast/id1796596698📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC57zPgo9waf-wKY1Ax-jmow?sub_confirmation=1Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0d70c39f-4fa7-4e6f-a498-e1bba74363c5/royally-unhinged-the-podcastiHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-royally-unhinged-the-podca-278210632

AI can make a flyer in seconds… but should it look like AI made it?It is the rise of AI-generated flyers, and why so many of them are starting to look the same, and what happens when you cram way too much information onto one graphic and call it marketing.We’re not anti-AI. In fact, we’re all for using tools that make marketing more accessible if that’s your thing — especially if hiring a designer or paying for expensive design software isn’t in the budget.But here’s the thing: you’re still in charge.AI doesn’t automatically know your brand, your fonts, your colors, your logo, your audience, or the personality you’ve worked hard to build. If you’re using it, you still need to direct it, edit it, and make sure the final piece actually feels like you.Use the tool. Make it work for you. Just don’t let the flyer become the brand.Because if your AI flyer is showing… people can probably tell.Listen or watch now:🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6oFcqQdcAjmvVazynOpeMD🍏 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/royally-unhinged-the-podcast/id1796596698📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC57zPgo9waf-wKY1Ax-jmow?sub_confirmation=1Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0d70c39f-4fa7-4e6f-a498-e1bba74363c5/royally-unhinged-the-podcastiHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-royally-unhinged-the-podca-278210632

Sometimes the biggest marketing wins come from the smallest moments.It’s travel stories, first-class flying, and some seriously great customer experience moments from Paula’s recent trip to Canada.From simple questions and thoughtful acknowledgements to those tiny personal touches that make someone feel genuinely seen, we get into why people remember how a business made them feel long after the transaction is over.Because sometimes it’s not the flashy campaign, the giant ad budget, or the perfectly polished strategy.Sometimes it’s just remembering someone, asking the right question, or making them feel like they actually matter.It’s the little things.Tell us in the comments: what’s one small customer service moment you’ve experienced that made a big impression?Listen or watch now:🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6oFcqQdcAjmvVazynOpeMD🍏 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/royally-unhinged-the-podcast/id1796596698📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC57zPgo9waf-wKY1Ax-jmow?sub_confirmation=1Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0d70c39f-4fa7-4e6f-a498-e1bba74363c5/royally-unhinged-the-podcastiHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-royally-unhinged-the-podca-278210632

Why do we keep doing things the same way just because that’s how they’ve always been done?Let’s start with a book that literally runs backwards — highest page number to lowest — and somehow turn that into a much bigger conversation about doing things differently on purpose.We also get into the Dungeon Crawler Carl book series, unconventional design choices, fandom, branding, marketing, events, speaking, podcasting, and all the weird little ways people can make something more memorable simply by refusing to follow the expected formula.Everyone says to “think outside the box.” But what if the better question is: who decided there had to be a box in the first place?We talk about why speakers don’t have to write books, why podcasts don’t have to follow the same interview format, why businesses don’t have to copy their competitors, and why sometimes the thing that makes people remember you is the part that feels a little strange, unexpected, or completely different.Because different gets noticed.Listen or watch now:🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6oFcqQdcAjmvVazynOpeMD🍏 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/royally-unhinged-the-podcast/id1796596698📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC57zPgo9waf-wKY1Ax-jmow?sub_confirmation=1Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0d70c39f-4fa7-4e6f-a498-e1bba74363c5/royally-unhinged-the-podcastiHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-royally-unhinged-the-podca-278210632